Workplace Violence Against Hospital Staff In Selected Hospitals In Greater Accra Region: A Study Of The Prevalence And Related Factors

ABSTRACT 

Workplace violence is a globally recognised workplace hazard in the health sector however, there is a lack of research on the phenomenon in Ghana. Workplace violence 

includes physical and psychological violence and involves acts such as assault, threats, verbal and sexual abuse. These can all have deleterious effects on victims. Thus, this study sought to determine the prevalence and factors relating to violence perpetrated against hospital workers in the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the University Hospital both in the Greater Accra Region. A cross-sectional study design using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 333 workers of different professional groups at the selected hospitals. The results showed that 44.4 % of respondents had experienced some form of workplace violence (both physical and psychological), with the most common type of psychological abuse being verbal (76.4%). Age, job category, years of experience and shifts worked were associated with the incidence of violence in the workplace. Results of the logistic regression showed that staff with > 20 years work experience have 19 (CI=1.55-225.86) times odds of experiencing violence compared to those with < 6 years work experience. Additionally, night shift staff have 5 times odds (CI= 0.45-2.26) of experiencing violence compared to staff that go for morning shifts. Patients were the most common perpetrators of both forms of violence (60% for physical violence and 39.3% for psychological violence). The findings indicate that workplace violence against hospital workers in Ghana exists, and hence there is the need for management interventions to safeguard hospital employees and provide a safer, more secure atmosphere for hospital staff.